NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Galatians 5-6
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Chronicles 31:4-5 (NIV); He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion
due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As
soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new
wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of
everything.
After years of living in sin under the rule of the wicked king Ahaz, King Hezekiah called the
people of Judah to repent and turn back to the Lord. And they were glad to do so! Pagan
worship didn’t offer the hedge of security promised them when they followed God; rather
the curse of the Lord had come upon them. A return to the Lord meant restoration and
redemption, so giving of their tithes and offerings was a joy.
Tithing a tenth of our income, including paycheques and gifts of money, is a command.
Many of us work as hard as we can to evade giving, and strive to tithe the minimum
amount we can justify. Others of us tithe consistently out of habit and duty, but our hearts
are completely unengaged.
We need to take specific time to listen in prayer about our finances. It is a good idea
to periodically re-evaluate your budget, to ask the Lord what He has to say about your
giving, to search your heart for dishonesty and hoarding, and to double-check that you
are giving out of a grateful heart. God Himself demonstrated the tithe when he gave Christ
– the firstborn Son – as a ransom for many. Why would we not show our worship and
thanksgiving by offering back to Him?
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you tithe on everything you are given? Ask God to search your heart for areas of
selfishness, hoarding and dishonesty, and confess those things to Him.
2. Spend some time listening about your finances. Is there anything God is calling you to
stop our start?
3. What has God given you? List off ten of the blessings you’ve received and thank Him.
Ask God to give you a joy in giving back to Him.
4. Selfishness is a common issue. Ask God how you can strive to live a life of grateful
sacrifice.
